Planners Delay Decision to Increase Cornwall Student Cap

Cornwall councillors have delayed the decision on whether to increase the cap on the number of students at Cornwall's university campus.

Members of Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee met last week to discuss an application for the cap on university students at the Penryn Campus to be lifted from 5,000 to 7,500.

However, councils deferred the decision as they wanted to ensure additional purpose-built student accommodation can be provided and further details could be submitted in regards to the future plans of Falmouth University and the University of Exeter.

The application had been recommended for approval on the condition that more student housing is built and Committee members acknowledged the benefits the university brings to Falmouth and the whole of Cornwall.

Concerns were raised over the number of houses currently being used for student accommodation in the town and the overall impact this was having on Falmouth residents.

The university said it wanted to increase the amount of purpose-built student accommodation, with plans to provide an extra 1,467 room up to 2020.

The deferral on whether to increase the cap was agreed by 12 votes to 8 so that more information could be provided.

A statement issued by the universities of Falmouth and Exeter after the meeting said: "We will work closely with Cornwall Councilâs planning officers to ensure members have all the information they need, and to explain in greater detail the work undertaken by both Universities to increase access to higher education in Cornwall. We hope they will be able to make a decision at the earliest opportunity."